GIB CHESS FESTIVAL IS 'A
MARQUEE EVENT' SAYS REIGNING WORLD MENS
CHAMPIONAt the opening reception on Monday night Gibraltar Culture and Sports
Minister Steven Linares weclomed all the players and thanked them for coming to
the Rock to play in the tournament. Mr Linares wished all well in their game
and hoped all would enjoy the festival.

Tournament director, Stuart Conquest, addressed the familiar faces in the
gathering in the main hall by opening with well wishes for a successful
tournament from the current World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand. In a e-mail
sent by Anand he described the tournament asa "marquee event". (see full quote below)

Conquest then said that numbers this year have reached a record high.

"There is," he said, "something very special abut the
ambience created over these 10 days of chess where everyone feels very much at
home."

It was then up to Miss Gibraltar 2011 Michelle Gillingwater Pedersen to
draw the pairings for the opening top six games.

First up was Peter Svidler from Russia, a former winner in Gibraltar, and a
huge cricket fan. So it was not surprising that he drew a white cricket ball
received with much approval from the players. He plays Jovanka Houska in the
opening round from UK.

Meanwhile Monday evening also saw the launch of the first Gibraltar stamps
featuring chess. One of the pairings for yesterday between Adams and Zhukova,
was an exact repetition in both names and colours as that featured on the 30p
stamp. Reigning World Champion Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand said, "I would like to wish the organisers of the Tradewise Chess Festival a
very successful 10th anniversary. The event has grown in stature and popularity
over the years and has become a marquee event attracting the best names in
chess including a lot of players from my country.

"On this special occasion I was happy to note that a special prize
would be given as a Commonwealth prize to commemorateHer Majesty The Queen's Diamond Jubilee.I would personally like to congratulate Brian
Callaghan who has been awarded the prestoigious O.B.E. for his services to
tourism and chess.I would certainly
like to visit the event in own of its future editions.Once again all the best for many more good
years of chess."--Alice MascarenhasTradewise Chess Press OfficerPress Office2012 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festivalwww.gibraltarchesscongress.com